“Let’s warm up with jumping jacks”, said the running group leader. “No problem”, I thought. While jumping, I turned to look goofily at my daughter who was with me. Mid-turn, my leg gave out and I suddenly and obviously fell to the pavement. “I’m good!” I cheerfully said while pulling myself off the ground in front of 20 women and girls I didn’t know very well. My knee wasn’t painful, but wasn’t entirely right either. But I pressed on, my daughter ran off and I went walking with a few women.

While walking, I turned to chat and boom-down again! Once more a smiling, “I’m fine” came out of my mouth as I hoisted myself off the gravel a bit slower this time. Three miles later I was okay, until it gave out a few more times at home. I finally whispered to my husband, “I think I did something to my knee.”

Fast forward a few months–past the Dr.’s appointments, MRI, and PT to help me identify if I want to live with a stable, but torn ACL or have surgery. I realized my knee is fairly stable, but it’s only functional, not optimal. It is time for surgery.

Can I live with it? Yes.

Do I want to? Not anymore.

I want more for my life. I want to live an optimal existence and this knee is hindering me. Optimal and not just functional is how I want to live for Jesus as well.

Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” ~John 6:29 NLT

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Stephan’s Spirit-led response to the accusing Sanhedrin Council in Acts 7 inspired me. I prayed for boldness in sharing my faith like God’s messengers in the Bible. Then I thought, “I’m not God’s messenger! I’m not a prophet, teacher or called leader in the church.” Mid-prayer, self-doubt slithered in.

Gratefully, God gently broke into my self-doubt by reminding me: I am a mom, wife, sister, daughter and friend. I am God’s messenger by how I live, who I am and what I say and do each day.

All of us who believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord are God’s messengers. Worshipping, serving at church and living moral upright lives is wonderful, but is that all there is? If I truly want to follow His footprints and go where He leads me, it means going beyond church attendance.

Worshipping fills me to follow. Studying His Word delivers direction. The Holy Spirit prompts me along the way-all to convey a message. What I do, say or don’t say and who I am on a daily basis is a message to everyone around me. But what is the message I am sending?

Is my message declaring God as Lord of my life? Or is my message subtly declaring my to-do list, my work and my desires are more important? It made me really think.

Hebrews 3:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest. (NLT)

Jesus is God’s ultimate messenger. He delivered the only message that matters: His life, death and resurrection. I cannot do what Jesus did, that was His message. But I can deliver the message of Jesus.

I can “think carefully about this Jesus” as the verse instructs. I can read about Him, apply His teachings, worship and follow Him by who I am each day.

God didn’t call me to be a teacher, church worker or prophet. He’s calling me to deliver His message each and every day by how I live. What, why, and who I am influences my family, friends and each person I come in contact with. My life delivers Jesus’ message of grace and love.

I try to follow Him by living as He did, but I often fall short-very short. We all do, we all will. Therein lies the real beauty of the message. God’s message of grace and forgiveness through Jesus can shine just as brightly through my shortcomings or successes.

Strength to follow and live for Jesus comes through the grace He’s already given me. I live for Him by trusting in His gift of grace. Through His grace, He gives me strength and ability to live for Him.

I am God’s messenger and so are you. I invite you to walk along with me as we follow His footprints together.